S T F U – ‘What We Want’ (Overblown Track Premiere)

There are few 1990s bands that crossed over in two distinct musical genres, yet in such a hazy gazey dreamy way, in the way that seminal UK duo Curve did. Their tasteful explorations of electronica, fused with what would eventually be known as shoegaze, decorated a whole decade to make them a virtual household name among music aficionados of that era.

Well it recently came to my attention that Curve’s sonic architect Dean Garcia has a side project, called S T F U, accompanied by a full-length album. Unlike the SPC ECO project he has pursued since the mid 2000s with daughter Rose Berlin, this one features male vocals by Preston Maddox of dark-gaze outfit Bloody Knives. Together they bring the goods on this debut “What We Want” LP. With a whole history of working with female vocalists, I thought this would be worth a listen. And it was.

Apart from his nearly 15-year history with Curve and his decade long project SPC ECO with daughter, Dean Garcia has also toured the world several times and recorded multiple albums with such established artists as Eurythmics, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Bryan Ferry, Sinead O’Connor and Ian Dury. Apart from Preston Maddox’s involvement in Bloody Knives and S T F U, he will also be playing bass with UK punk band Conflict on their upcoming US tour.

Today we present you the first single from that album, also called ‘What We Want”. S T F U craftily lure you in – hook, line and sinker – in a beautiful Bermuda Triangle with elements of Curve, Massive Attack and The Verve interwoven together.

“This track came about in much the same way as all of the tracks I record, that being get an odd backdrop, make a rolling beat and then start to throw things at it until you get it to a place that works for you. The only difference with this one was I sent it in a very raw state straight to Preston as soon as I could. Preston sent me back a vocal more or less as you hear it on the finished song. I added more drums and a drunk bass which is some of the best bass I’ve recorded for years. I recorded a first take irreverent pass of bass while fucked up on whisky and driven by the sentiment of the vocal delivery. I recorded the bass pass very loud very late and with total disregard of everyone and thing around me, total punk and free of due care and attention, the guitar followed much in the same way and the track just came alive….”

Based over 10,000 km. away from each other, the debut S T F U album came to life in two separate studios. London is now home for Dean Garcia, while Preston Maddox is based in Austin, Texas – both recording their parts in their own respective studios.We also present a track from each of these bands here, for those of you not otherwise familiar with their body of work.

Jamie Coughlan is the founder of Overblown. He talks a lot about himself and is totally pretentious. Terrible with personal finances. Loves beer gardens. He has written for the RTE Guide, A Music Blog, Yea?, The Thin Air, Gigwise, and is a contributor to The Tipping Point.

Overblown is all about subterreanean music. We aim to champion bands and record labels that we are passionate about and are overlooked and undervalued by the mainstream media machine, while still paying homage to the iconic bands and labels who laid and developed the groundwork for today’s emerging talent.